THE VILLAGE VOICE

"You needn't tell me that a man who doesn't love oysters, asparagus, and good wines has got a soul, or a stomach either. He's simply got the instinct for being unhappy." ~ 'Saki', pen name of Scottish writer Hector Hugh Munro (1870-1916)  CRUSTLESS ASPARAGUS/FRESH BABY SPINACH QUICHE ~  Little effort delicious Breakfast/Brunch treat slightly adapted from LowCarbYum.com  8  oz. or more fresh asparagus  2  cups baby spinach leaves 6  beaten organic eggs 2  1/4  cup grated mozzarella cheese 2  Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese 2  cloves mined garlic coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Grease 9-inch pie/quiche dish. Combine eggs with 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese and garlic. Reserve about 1/3 cup of egg mixture. Sir spinach leaves in remaining egg mixture and our into prepared dish. Layer or arrange asparagus on top of egg mixture.  Pour reserved egg mixture on top....

"Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life." ~S.D. Gordon MUSHROOM SPINACH STRATA ~ Lovely to look at ... luscious to eat __________ 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 lb. sliced mushrooms 1 cup chopped onion 8 slices good whole wheat bread, trimmed & halved diagonally 2 cups shredded Swiss or Gouda cheese 1 10-oz. package chopped spinach, thawed and well drained 6 slices crisp bacon (optional) 4 organic beaten eggs 1 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 cup milk coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper Grease a 10-inch quiche pan and set aside. Melt butter and saute mushrooms for about 5 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Add chopped onion to pan and saute for 5 minutes. Arrange 6 of the half slices of bread to cover bottom of quiche pan. Atop bread, spread 3/4 of sauteed mushrooms and all of the onions, 1 cup of cheese, and drained spinach. Sprinkle crisp bacon over top. Arrange 8 half-slices over spinach, overlapping the pieces to fit in a circle; place remain...

"June is, above all things, "leafy," seeming chiefly to concentrate her energies on her foliage; for although she really is not lacking in flowers, they are almost swamped in the great green flood which has swept silently but irresistibly across the land." ~ Frances T. Dana ~ 'Leafy' June ____________ CURRIED TURKEY SALAD with WALNUTS & GRAPES 3 lbs. cooked turkey breast or tenderloins (Poach breast gently in bath of water, carrots , celery, pepper & onion for 1 1/2 hours or 25 minutes for tenderloins and allow to rest in liquid until cool) 1/2 lb. toasted walnut halves (save some for garnish) 2 lbs. halved seedless red grapes 4 sliced bananas CURRY MAYONNAISE 2 cups Hellman's mayonnaise 1 1/2 Tbsp. curry powder 2 Tbsp. mango chutney 1/4 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. dried basil 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 Tbsp. white wine juice and zest of 1 plump juicy lemon freshly grated black pepper to taste Tear turkey into chunks or strips. M...

~ Phalaenopsis Orchid Throat _____ CHERRY CLAFOUTIS 'LIMOUSIN' ~ Clafoutis or clafouti (pronounced kla -foo-TEE) is a French country cherry flan from the Limousin region of France. Best made during cherry season but with good quality canned cherries available , this dessert or brunch recipe can be enjoyed year-round. _________ 1 - 1 1/2 lbs. pitted cherries, (drained if using canned) 3 organic eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup melted unsalted butter 1 cup flour 1 cup milk 1/2 tsp. vanilla 2 tsp. Kirsch (cherry brandy) 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Beat sugar and eggs together until light in color. Gradually whisk in butter until incorporated. Add flour all at once and whisk until batter is homogeneous. Slowly pour in milk, a bit at a time. Add vanilla & Kirsch, mixing well. Place pitted cherries in buttered 9-10 inch glass or earthenware baking dish. Pour batter over fruit. Bake approximately 30-40 minutes until slightly browned and almost completely se...

CHIVE BLOSSOM OMELETTE ~ A seasonal treat captured when chive blossoms first bloom * 4 fresh organic eggs 4 Tbsp. sour cream pinch of coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp. fresh chopped parsley 1 Tbsp. fresh chopped chives 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 12 rinsed & patted dry chive blossoms Lightly beat eggs, sour cream, salt, pepper, parsley and chives. Preheat omelette pan and melt butter. Pour in egg mixture and leave undisturbed until omelette begins to set. Lower heat and, tipping pan slightly, lift edges to let uncooked egg run underneath. When omelette is firm, sprinkle with chive blossoms and fold in half. ______________________________ FRESH BLACKBERRY MUFFINS 1/2 cup room temperature unsalted butter 1 1/4 cup sugar 2 room temperature large organic eggs 2 cups flour 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup milk 2 cups fresh blackberries 4 tsp. sugar Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Grease 1/2 cup size muffin tins. Cream butter and sugar until light...

STILL CRAZED ~ TULIP FEVER VIDALIA BREAKFAST SOUFFLE ~ adapted from Georgia On My Menu * 8 oz. day old French bread 1/2 cup unsalted butter 4 large thinly sliced Vidalia onions 2 heaping cups grated Swiss cheese 4 large organic eggs 1 1/2 cups half & half 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme 1 tsp. Hungarian paprika pinch of coarse salt & cracked pepper Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Cube bread and place in buttered souffle dish. Melt butter in large skillet and saute onions until translucent. Scatter over bread and cover with cheese. Beat eggs with half & half. Season with thyme, paprika, salt & pepper. Pour over bread, onions and cheese, pressing down to soak bread. Sprinkle top with additional paprika. Cover and refrigerate or bake 45 minutes or until set and knife inserted in middle comes out clean. (6-8 servings) SPRING SALAD ~ tasty blend of fruit & vegetables * 4 cups Spring mix greens 2 cups broccoli flowerets 1 cup sliced strawberries fresh pineapple to taste DRESSING: 1/...

GARDENING NOTE: Though April is National Gardening Month, don't neglect the lawn that compliments your garden. Before forsythias finish blooming, fertilize and apply crabgrass prevention. ~ Blooming forsythia branch _____________________ CRABBY CHEESE PIE ~ lots of crab ... lots of cheese * 8 oz. good hand-picked crab (like Phillips) 1 bunch chopped scallions 1 large chopped red bell pepper 1 1/2 cups grated Swiss cheese 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese 8 large organic eggs 1 cup half & half 1 cup panko crumbs 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper pinch of coarse salt & freshly ground black pepper fresh chopped parsley Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Butter a 10-inch quiche pan. Beat eggs. Mix remaining ingredients together and add to eggs. Pour into quiche dish and sprinkle with parsley. Bake until set, about 40-45 minutes, watching carefully. Let rest a bit before serving. ~ Prolific forsythia _____________________ TOASTED COCONUT-TOPPED CREAM CHEESE-BANANA NUT BREAD ~ Another Southern...

ASPARAGUS and GOAT CHEESE QUICHE ~ retro is back and real men 'do eat quiche' * 1 Pillsbury crescent roll package 1 lb. trimmed asparagus 3-4 chopped shallots 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 1/4 cup half & half 4 large organic eggs scant pinch coarse salt 1/2 tsp. white pepper 1/2 tsp. Hungarian paprika 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme (1 tsp. dried) 2 cup crumbled goat cheese additional thyme for garnish Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Press crescent roll slices to fit deep dish quiche pan. Flute edges, brush bottom with Dijon mustard and set aside. Slice asparagus diagonally, 1/2 inch pieces. Reserve tips . Plunge in boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Saute shallots in butter until wilted. Add asparagus and cook gently about 3 minutes. Cool slightly and spread over bottom of crust. Sprinkle with 1 cup of goat cheese. Whisk eggs, half & half, thyme and salt & pepper. Pour over asparagus and cheese. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and fan asparagus spears de...

Dainty pansy whose soft painted face Tickles my garden with whimsical grace. _________ WILTED SPINACH and GRUYERE FRITTATA 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 10-oz. package baby spinach leaves 1 bunch chopped green onions salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 tsp. sweet Hungarian paprika 10 eggs 1/2 cup sour cream or half & half 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese dried parsley flakes for garnish Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Saute green onions in 1 Tbsp butter. Gradually add spinach until wilted. Drain well and set aside. Melt 3 Tbsp. butter. Whisk eggs, sour cream, and salt & pepper. Fold in 1 cup of cheese, spinach mixture and melted butter. Spread in greased quiche pan. Sprinkle with additional 1/2 cup cheese. Garnish with parsley Bake 45-55 minutes or until eggs are set. (Serves 4-6) _______________________ ORANGE-ALMOND SCONES ~ delicious warm or cold 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1/4 cup buttermilk 1 extra-large organic egg 1/4 tsp. almond extract 3 cups flour 4 tsp. ba...

"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found." ~ Calvin Trillin * For more information on Calvin Trillin visit Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CalvinTrillin ___________________________ ~ St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef 'N Cabbage _______________________ CORNED BEEF HASH ~ delicious 'Hangover' breakfast === 4 cups chopped corned beef 4 cups diced par-boiled potatoes (bring to boil, simmer 10 minutes & drain) 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 2 Tbsp. olive oil 1 large chopped onion 1 minced garlic clove 1 chopped red bell pepper 1/2 chopped orange or yellow pepper 1/2 chopped green bell pepper fresh chopped parsley 1 tsp. thyme 2 tsp. Lawry's Seasoned pepper kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste 1 small bunch chopped green onions 6 poached eggs In large skillet, melt 4 Tbsp. butter. Add onion, garlic, and peppers and cook until wilted. Coat...

GARDENING NOTE: All daffodils are Narcissus, which is the genus name. According to the International Cultivar Registration Authority (for Narcissus and for several other flowers that is the UK's Royal Horticultural Society) daffodil is accepted as a common name for all members of the Narcissus genus. However, most people think of daffodils as the single flower, large trumpet yellow ones, which are the most common kind of daffodils, and call the smaller headed scented varieties, narcissi . The Oxford Dictionary defines narcissus (plural narcissi ) as "any of a group of flowers including jonquils and daffodils, especially the kind with heavily-scented single white flowers". In fact, even the growers of the scented varieties ... call all of their products white or yellow, single or multi-headed, " narcissi ".The flower is named after Narcissus in Greek legend ... "Narcissus" comes from the Greek for "numbness" referring to the narcotic proper...

STRAWBERRY OMELET 1 pint washed, hulled & halved strawberries 2 Tbsp. sugar 2 Tbsp. strawberry preserves 6 eggs salt to taste dash white pepper 2 Tbsp. water 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, divided 2 Tbsp. sour cream powdered sugar Place all but 6 strawberries in a small bowl. Sprinkle with sugar. Let rest for 15 minutes. Toss with preserves and set aside. Beat eggs, salt, pepper and water until color is even. Heat 1 Tbsp. butter in skillet over medium heat. Turn half of the eggs into pan and as mixture cooks on bottom and sides, lift sides with spatula so egg on top will penetrate cooked surface and run under. When eggs are soft and thickened, about 3 minutes, add half of strawberry mixture and 1 Tbsp. sour cream to one side of omelet. Fold side without berries to cover side with berries. Let cook until egg is set, about 2-3 minutes. Repeat process with remaining 1 Tbsp. butter, etc. Garnish cooked omelets with whole reserved strawberries sprinkled with sifted powdered sugar. Serves 2...

FALL SATURDAY BRUNCH ~ SPINACH, PEAR and WATERCRESS SALAD with HONEY-MUSTARD DRESSING (from the old Pike Street Restaurant) * Dressing: 1/2 cup Peanut Oil 1/4 cup Honey 1 tsp. Hungarian Paprika 5 Tbsp. Cider vinegar 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard 2 1/2 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic 2 tsp. Grated Fresh Ginger Root Juice of 1 Large Lemon Salad: 1 Lb. Fresh Spinach Leaves 2 Ripe Bosch or D'Anjou Pears 2 Bunches Fresh Watercress Procedure: Wash spinach well, remove all stems. Make dressing. Cut pears in half, core and julienne. Place pears in some of the dressing so they don't brown. Wash watercress, remove long part of stem. Put spinach leaves in bowl, coat leaves with a bit of dressing. Place on plates, garnish with pears and watercress. ________________________ MUSHROOM ARTICHOKE QUICHE (also good crustless ) * 1 unbaked prepared pie shell 3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter 1 Lb. Thickly Sliced Mushrooms 2 Cups Drained and Chopped Artichoke Hearts 2 Cups Cubed Danish Havarti Cheese 4 Large Eggs 1 Cup Sour...